The winter transfer window is closed, but now it’s time to look ahead to the summer! Here are the new rumours floating around following the Jan. 31 deadline day.
Manchester United want Jota
Manchester United are interested in trying to sign Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Diogo Jota, Calciomercato reports.
The Red Devils are believed to be keeping an eye on the Portuguese youngster following yet another strong season with Wolves up to this point.
Jota has been able to secure back-to-back Europa League hat tricks in his last few games, with one of his biggest moments in English football coming when he scored the winner against United in the FA Cup quarterfinals last season.
With Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men suffering from a range of injury problems, Jota could fill a gap for them if they’re still in need of attacking options once the summer transfer window rolls around.
Liverpool have Werner concern
Liverpool are concerned that forward Timo Werner may not be willing to understand that he’d need to fight for his place in the starting lineup if they went through with the signing, The Athletic reports.
It’s been well known that that the link Liverpool and Werner is growing courtesy of recent comments made by the striker himself.
“I know that Liverpool are currently the best team in the world and it makes you very proud to be linked to them,” the German said earlier this week after RB Leipzig’s win over Tottenham in Champions League action.
Now, with the Reds weighing up whether or not to trigger his £50 million release clause, it appears as if there could be a few more complications than they initially thought.
Werner would be a huge asset for the club but is unlikely to be a guaranteed starter courtesy of Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino who are firing on all cylinders.
Pep: Spanish giants could bid for City stars
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola thinks its “normal” that Barcelona and Real Madrid could potentially bid for some of his star players.
Courtesy of their two-season ban from the Champions League, the expectation is that some of Europe’s biggest clubs will try to strike while the iron’s hot this summer by signing City’s biggest names.
While Raheem Sterling is the name that keeps being mentioned, their squad is full of world class talent who would be eyed by Europe’s elite.
“Barca and Real Madrid are maybe the strongest and most powerful teams in terms of history. That is normal and I understand completely,” Guardiola told reporters on Friday.
Sterling deflected the links to Madrid in an interview with Spanish outlet AS, despite saying it is a “fantastic club” and complementing the nicer weather in Spain.
Tap-ins
– Rangers are interested in triggering the £4m option to sign Ianis Hagi on a permanent deal, Daily Record reports. Rangers assistant manager Gary McAllister has confirmed that they’ll be looking to build upon his loan deal from Belgian side Genk if he can continue his strong run of form, with the Romanian scoring twice last night to help guide the club towards a big 3-2 comeback win in the UEFA Europa League.
– Adil Rami could be on his way to FC Sochi after having his Fenerbahce contract terminated, RMC Sport reports. The World Cup-winning French defender spent just one year in Turkey after signing from Marseille and now, at the age of 34, he’s looking to make one of the final big moves of his career with struggling Sochi hoping that he can help turn their fortunes around.
– Valencia are looking at signing central defender Javi Sanchez, on the books for Real Madrid but on loan at Valladolid. AS reports that Los Che want to take advantage of the La Liga loophole that Barcelona used to sign Martin Braithwaite from Leganes as an emergency stop-gap after the injury of Ezequiel Garay. However, the deal is complicated due to Sanchez’s status as a loanee and Real’s optimism of his long-term future.
